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Post by jefe46 on Apr 8, 2020 21:28:44 GMT -5
My grandson is a fine guitar player and viola player.
In his current band he is shifting to bass. He is now playing what he
considers a total POS.
What modestly priced Strat or Strat like bass would you recommend ?
Other brands considered .
Thanks.
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Post by Blacksunshine on Apr 9, 2020 9:14:59 GMT -5
I bought a Squier '77 Reissue Jazz a couple years ago from Sweetwater that is fantastic, especially for my limited bass needs. And only $299 at the time.
I have a friend with an American-made Reissue Precision and I would put mine up against his any day. It really is that good.
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Post by Blacksunshine on Apr 9, 2020 9:25:17 GMT -5
A quick search on Sweetwater shows that the closest they have nowadays is the Classic Vibe series, starting around $399.
I found a used one just like mine on Reverb but they are asking more than what I paid.
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Post by LTB on Apr 9, 2020 9:33:26 GMT -5
Fender Player series Jazz or P (Precision) bass are typically very nice and can be found on sale or used around $500-$600.
A second in quality is the Classic Vibe series. I found the Classic Vibe 60's P the better of their Jazz and 50's P models.
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Post by jefe46 on Apr 9, 2020 11:27:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies...
I'll have a look ..
One question what is the basic difference between the Precision and the Jazz ?
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Post by hushnel on Apr 9, 2020 11:33:22 GMT -5
I’m not sure about a strat like bass, I’m assuming body shape. I recently picked up a Squire Jaguar bass that came with a small Ampeg amp for $150.00 delivered. I wanted the P-Bass/Jazz Bass pickup configuration, I was still looking for this configuration when the Jag showed up on Craigslist.
Generally the pick up config for Fender style bass is the single P split pickup, the double single coil Jazz and the custom J/P configuration. The body shape is different too, both are a long horn short horn but the Jazz is twisted a bit.
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bassngtr
Wholenote
I am all about the bass...
Posts: 146
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Post by bassngtr on Apr 9, 2020 18:46:22 GMT -5
Lots of good basses out there. I bought a Sire M2 last year ($459 USD)as a backup 5-string.
It became my #1 as soon as I took it out of the box. Nicest neck I've ever touched let alone played.
Sire's prices are rising a bit but this is a ridiculously good bass for that price.
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Post by windmill on Apr 9, 2020 19:50:46 GMT -5
A precison or a jazz bass is always a good starting point. Between Squier and Fender they have one at any price you can afford to pay. A precision has a wider neck than a jazz bass. HTH  |
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Post by larryguitar54 on Apr 9, 2020 20:27:31 GMT -5
If you A/B a Jazz and Precision and dime everything the Jazz is a bit brighter than the Precision. But you can dial in what you want with either one. I have the Jazz with the flat wounds and have never looked back. If you want to save money a Squire is perfectly fine. All of this also depends upon the amp. Fortunately the new Fender Rumble series is really nice and affordable.
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Post by jefe46 on Apr 9, 2020 20:53:09 GMT -5
The amp is a 1979 Fender bass amp.. a 15 Watt, 12" Silver Face. Forgot the actual model...
Thanks again for all the suggestions.
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Post by Rick Knight on Apr 10, 2020 6:55:53 GMT -5
If Strat-like has to do with the body size, 90s era Precision Lytes are about Strat size, with an elongated upper horn. The neck feels more like a J to me, which I like. The last time I checked, they were selling in the $400 - $450 range.
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Post by jefe46 on Apr 10, 2020 9:41:19 GMT -5
Thanks.
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Post by LTB on Apr 10, 2020 20:38:46 GMT -5
If you A/B a Jazz and Precision and dime everything the Jazz is a bit brighter than the Precision. But you can dial in what you want with either one. I have the Jazz with the flat wounds and have never looked back. If you want to save money a Squire is perfectly fine. All of this also depends upon the amp. Fortunately the new Fender Rumble series is really nice and affordable. I too have a Jazz with TI Jazz Flats and love it. My comment about the Classic Vibe P sounding better than the Classic Vibe J had to do with Pickups. The CV P had a better sounding pickup. By contrast the J's pickups sounded enemic |
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Post by theprofessor on May 3, 2020 10:23:26 GMT -5
In my experience (having both) the P bass is more focus on the fundamental note/tone while the Jazz is more hi-fi of note and harmonics.
A good comparison would be a loudspeaker and a stereo.
Like slot head and Phillips screwdrivers, neither is “bad” - rather they both work excellently for respective situations.
(If you need an answer and not knowing your budget, look for a used 2000 era American series P bass as I can’t see you losing any money on the deal should you wish to sell down the line.)
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on May 3, 2020 15:40:37 GMT -5
What type of music does his band play?
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Post by Laker on May 8, 2020 19:25:22 GMT -5
As an old school bass player (55+ years now) I don’t really think in terms of how the bass sounds as I always dial them in to what sounds good to me. The main difference is the Jazz has a faster/narrower neck profile than the Precision and the Jazz body profile might be a tad more sculpted than the Precision.
I started with a Jazz Bass in ‘63, traded it for a Precision in ‘65, and then purchased a used ‘63 Jazz around ‘75 that was my main axe until changing to a five string in ‘88. They all sounded great!
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Post by LTB on May 8, 2020 22:40:25 GMT -5
Laker, what bass is that in your Avatar?
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Post by Laker on May 12, 2020 11:13:08 GMT -5
Laker, what bass is that in your Avatar? That's a Deluxe 55-94 Lakland. Dan Lakin set it to me to try out for a weekend back in 1999. He said if you don't like it just send it back on Monday...it's been my main axe ever since. Here's a grainy shot from a practice session.  |
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Post by LTB on May 14, 2020 5:33:58 GMT -5
Laker, cool old photo and very nice bass. Bet it plays like a dream!
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Post by Laker on May 14, 2020 17:34:43 GMT -5
Laker, cool old photo and very nice bass. Bet it plays like a dream! Thanks, it’s the nicest playing I’ve owned in all the years I’ve been playing bass. |
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Post by LTB on May 14, 2020 20:13:39 GMT -5
Laker, cool old photo and very nice bass. Bet it plays like a dream! Thanks, it’s the nicest playing I’ve owned in all the years I’ve been playing bass. It must be at or near the top of their line |
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Post by Taildragger on May 16, 2020 12:35:59 GMT -5
In appearance, the most "Strat-like" (though the headstock looks more "Tele") bass I can think of is the Fender/Squier "Bullet" models:  I've never played one, but from what I understand they were made in both short and long-scale versions in both the USA and Japan. The pups appear to be the same ones used in the Mustang Bass. They were produced during the 1980s and are not currently being made. I think they may have taken the Mustang's slot in the lineup when the Mustang was out of production, but somebody more knowledgeable than myself can address that notion it it's incorrect. They do show up sporadically in the used market, though the short-scale ones seem to be rarer.
Pretty much an entry-level instrument so it may not be what you're looking for, though Nordstrand and others make replacement Mustang pups that would be an upgrade if he's really in love with that body shape. Or, with your woodworking skills, you could enlarge the pup cavity to accommodate whatever bass pup/pups strike his fancy. Electronics upgrades are pretty quick and straight-forward when they are scratchplate-mounted: not like fishing for wires in a semi-hollow.
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Post by LTB on May 16, 2020 20:41:16 GMT -5
In appearance, the most "Strat-like" (though the headstock looks more "Tele") bass I can think of is the Fender/Squier "Bullet" models: I believe 51 and 52 Tele basses started to morph until 54 were smoother edges of the Tele body until 57 to 59 when they were more like today's Precision Basses with the Humbucker P pickups. |
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on May 20, 2020 19:09:44 GMT -5
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Post by LTB on May 20, 2020 20:01:04 GMT -5
I have heard of that bass but it has remained an enigma to me as to what it would be used for. To me it looks like a heavier stringed guitar.  Maybe you can help me understand this UPDATE:I read one review that was not impressed with this bass until he decided to put a set of Baritone Guitar Strings on it and then it shined!!!! |
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on May 21, 2020 7:21:59 GMT -5
I have heard of that bass but it has remained an enigma to me as to what it would be used for. To me it looks like a heavier stringed guitar. Maybe you can help me understand this UPDATE:I read one review that was not impressed with this bass until he decided to put a set of Baritone Guitar Strings on it and then it shined!!!!I've never played one but I know Jack Bruce used to. That is until the "FOOL" painted it. |
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Post by LTB on Jun 10, 2020 7:20:56 GMT -5
My grandson is a fine guitar player and viola player. What did you decide on for your grandson? |
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Post by LTB on Oct 12, 2020 0:45:51 GMT -5
What modestly priced Strat or Strat like bass would you recommend ? Other brands considered . What did you decide on for him? |
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